NY's PS 122 and Chicago's Goodman Theatre Studio both served as homes to a workshop of John Leguizamo's latest solo, initially titled Freak, in March. The piece will come back to PS 122 for several performances in April.

NY's PS 122 and Chicago's Goodman Theatre Studio both served as homes to a workshop of John Leguizamo's latest solo, initially titled Freak, in March. The piece will come back to PS 122 for several performances in April.

Leguizamo, whose new movie The Pest opened Feb. 8, had two previous character-based monologues Off-Broadway: Mambo Mouth and Spic-O-Rama. The new piece, still in formation, features more characters and begins with a seven-minute original film on the history of Latino people (ending with the birth of the author/performer).

Why PS 122? Because he tried out material at the East Village, 1st Ave., space that ended up in Mambo Mouth, Spic-O-Rama and TV's "House Of Buggin." This is where he returns "to test new characters and approaches." Other artists who develop their work at the space include Eric Bogosan and Meredith Monk.

Why the Goodman Studio? Because Spic-O-Rama had a nine-week sold out run there and then went on to win a Dramatists' Guild Hull Warriner Award for Best American Play in New York.

Leguizamo's other films include To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar and Executive Decision. His next film, Spawn, features Leguizamo as "a 4', 300-lb. clown from hell." On stage he appeared in the NY Shakespeare Festival's A Midsummer Night's Dream and La Puta Vida. For tickets ($12) and information on Leguizamo's work-in-progress at Performance Space 122, April 6, 10, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 & 26, call (312) 477-5288.